Monday, 14 March 2016

All White: Wearing Head-to-Toe One Colour (True Monochrome) + the #iwillwearwhatilike Link Up

This week's #iwillwearwhatilike theme is monochrome, but meaning true monochrome, i.e. head-to-toe one colour (not black and white)! I went with white because it's not only the perfect colour to shake off winter, but because it's one of the easiest colours to get different pieces to match. Think how many blues, reds or greens there are: White does come in different 'shades' but nowhere near as many that the brights come in!

I managed to squeeze in one last wear of this white lace SS14 sweater before the weather (hopefully) gets warmer - the thick, high neck of this piece completely negates the need for a scarf, it keeps your neck so warm. (We had a glorious weekend of wall-to-wall sunshine and calm wind, so although it was cold the sun did actually do something in terms of heating us up a bit.) With some white tailored trousers (similar) and a white backpack my monochrome look was complete... I allowed myself one tiny pop of colour with the yellow on the flats. Couldn't resist.

Wearing one colour head-to-toe can be especially tricky, and you have to really like the colour to start. Unless you go for black (which in my books doesn't count!), it's a really bold look and incredibly striking. Including different textures is a good idea if you're going for monochrome, otherwise a tailored suit or co-ords will do all the work for you. It does a great job of lengthening your body - the eye is drawn straight up and down because there's nothing breaking you up.

INCLUDING DIFFERENT TEXTURES IS A GOOD IDEA IF YOU'RE GOING FOR MONOCHROME, OTHERWISE A TAILORED SUIT OR CO-ORDS WILL DO ALL THE WORK FOR YOU. IT DOES A GREAT JOB OF LENGTHENING YOUR BODY - THE EYE IS DRAWN STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING BREAKING YOU UP.

I do hope some of you have some one-colour looks to share - don't forget you can add old posts, they don't have to be current... Scroll down for the details and the link up. And of course if you add a monochrome look this week you may be featured next week!HAVE YOU WORN A (TRUE) MONOCHROME LOOK - AND IF NOT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR COLOUR OF CHOICE FOR A HEAD-TO-TOE ONE COLOUR OUTFIT? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS OR TWEET ME @NOTLAMB!

Thank you for joining the #iwillwearwhatilike link up! This started as a campaign on Instagram in August 2015 where women over 30 wore everything on a journalist's list of "inappropriate" items for 30+ women (including leopard print, short dresses and oversized sunglasses. Yes, really). It was so popular that I decided to carry it on weekly where women of all ages link up their fabulous style, never mind what anyone tells them not to wear!

So link up every Monday at 3pm UK time - it'll stay open for a week. Whilst the original article was of course aimed at the 30+, you can be ANY age to link up. The only criteria is that you're wearing whatever you damn well like!

PLEASE NOTE
This is for linking up what you've been wearing (or would like to wear) only. I like to keep it all looking tidy because I'm a bit of a neat-freak, so non-outfit links will be removed - it's only fair to others linking up!

NEXT WEEK:

THE OPTIONAL THEME FOR 21 MARCH IS FLORALS(to celebrate March Equinox!)

Please be a good sport and do the following...

1. Follow your host Not Dressed As Lamb via Bloglovin or Instagram
2. Link up your outfits (blog or Instagram posts) that show how you choose to wear what you like - as many as you like!
3. Include a link back to the post if you're linking from a blog post, or add my button (below)
4. Post your outfit on Instagram (if you use it) with the hashtag #iwillwearwhatilike - Monday's the day to join in the IG fun
5. Please do not link up anything other than outfits, shoes, accessories or make-up -non-outfit links will be removed. This link up is for linking up what you've been wearing (or would like to wear) only
6. Visit some of the other links and share the love!

Featured favourites

To get yourself featured next week, link up something following this week's theme and make sure you've included a link back to Not Dressed As Lamb or my button in your post/sidebar!

DO SHARE THE LOVE AND VISIT AS MANY LINKS AS YOU CAN (YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT OTHER LOVELY LIKE-MINDED LADIES YOU MIGHT MEET) - THE ORIGINAL INSTAGRAM CAMPAIGN FORGED SOME WONDERFUL NEW FRIENDSHIPS SO DON'T MISS OUT!

77 comments

wow, wow, wow. I absolutely adore this look Catherine.This is monochromatic personified.The little mustard cap to the toes just gives it a fabulous edge. Perfect layers, perfect colour and perfect you.. Love love love.Thanks so much for hosting.. and look at me on the ball this week i'm in place number 1, yay!! xxx

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh first of all thank you soooooooooooo much for being one of your favourite looks, yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhI have never seen white trousers look so good, but then again you have the perfect body and shape. And you know I speak my mind hahahhahaGORGEOUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

This whole look is so fantastic on you Catherine -- love the tiny pop of tan in the flats. And you're so right about texture being a necessity when it comes to monochrome (and it's so fantastically fun to photograph too!).

And your outfit reminds me that I've never done an all white outfit but have always wanted to! Now if only the constant rain we've had these last three days would subside so I could shoot one?

love love love. Texture is what I love about certain looks, this top with all of its exquisite embroidery.. should it be in my closet as well? Yes! Love it and really love this fresh all white look with just a touch of color in the cap toe!jess xxwww.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

Oh Catherine, I adore this look! I am, I'm afraid, a bit of a muck magnet - so I don't wear a lot of white. But I think this outfit has made me change my mind.The lace is to die for and I love the simple splash of colour on the toe of your shoes.Very elegant!Michelle xx

Hehe "Muck Magnet"... that's priceless, Michelle!! Normally I'm a muck magnet but when it comes to eating in an outfit like this I just cover myself in tea towels. Not so easy if you're in a restaurant though ;))

Thank you sweetie, and sorry to hear you're under the weather - sending you lots of love and get well soon wishes xx

What a beautiful all white outfit! I wear a lot of colours that sort of blend in together, analogous colour schemes etc, but full on monochrome... not even black. Certainly not black. But if I had to try, maybe blue might be my colour of choice. But that sounds a bit boring. I remember way back when I was a student, I had a classmate who dressed in head to toe red. As in fire engine red. Let's just say it was maybe just a bit too much, even for someone who loves strong colours...

Tiina I don't know if you ever saw Blair Edie's (Atlantic Pacific) head to toe red outfit? > http://atlantic-pacific.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/red.html She wears all red quite a lot and I think it looks amazing on her - it's very brave!! Blue would be beautiful head to toe I think, you should try it!

Catherine, I am loving your all white look! My go-to is all black with a pop of gold or animal print. After I linked up a few of my all black faves, I noticed you were looking for color, eek! I actually don't wear a ton of color, only in accessories. I have done all grey before, but you've got me thinking now I could do all white. I just purchased a pair of fab white boyfriend jeans that are in need of being styled up. Let's wee what I can come up with! Great post as always and thank you for hosting this always fun Monday Link Up!XOSuzannewww.AskSuzanneBell.com

No it's absolutely fine that you've linked up all black, Suzanne - you never know, you may still be featured next week!! I was referring to the fact that all black is quite a common look for people mostly out of laziness, but if thought is put into head-to-toe black you can really tell, different textures and fabrics make all the difference. And I LOVE the sound of you in all white, that'd be wonderful!

I'm not much of a monochromatic girl---part of it is probably psychological. My mom adore this kind of look---so I"m probably just rebelling! (Because if I hear, it's slenderizing, one more time...). So my look for the link up is partial monochromatic (the bottom half)---that's about as close as I usually get (unless i'm in a dress)! jodiewww.jtouchofstyle.com

Thank you Nancy! I think is very common worn on the top half, less common on the bottom half, and very rarely head-to-toe. But I've worn all white before and am rather partial to it - I find it kinda easy to style...! x

The sweater is a beauty, isn't it Laurie - but boy does it make your neck hot...!! Thank you sweetie, no problem about being a week out, you've got more important things to worry about I'm sure with your family's newborn!! xx

All white is such a pretty look against your hair & I just love those sunnies Catherine! I'm a huge fan of wearing all one colour particularly grey - However with 3 children & a dog all white is reserved for when Mama goes away...Alone ;-)Mx

So pretty! There is something about an all white ensemble....super chic, or impossibly romantic and ethereal...I love them all! I'd love to attempt an all white outfit, especially a warm white such as yours. If I do monochromatic, it's going to be blue, and usually navy blue. Having said that, I've linked up a fun two piece outfit in a pale oxford blue.

All white is a great look...expensive looking too, especially with the addition of such a decadent texture.I love mixing patterns and colours, but if I had to monochrome....hmmmm...It would have to be red!XXXSamanthafakefabulous.com

A few people have said that, Samantha (about it looking expensive) - I think because it makes you look like you don't have to do any work and can keep yourself clean so you can obviously afford a butler, haha!!!! Thank you - and oh! I'd LOVE to see you in all red...!

You look great all in white. I'm funny about white. I fear as soon as I wear it, spaghetti will appear, covered in sauce and stick itself to me. Irrational? Maybe. I do love the idea of all in monotone though. I did a week of posts about a thousand years ago where I did that and particularly liked doing grey and, surprisingly, hot pink. Great theme. I really am going to try to be in theme one of these days!! Thanks so much for hosting and have a great week!

I love monochromatic looks and the way you added texture is perfect and your unexpected touch of yellow is so fab! Thank you for the link up Catherine. Don't forget to come on over to SHOE AND TELL to link up your great look.

You look utterly chic in this monochrome ensemble Catherine. I love the beautiful embroidery on the top giving that extra dimension. I hardly ever wear white as I know it'd be stained in next to no time! Those little pumps are so cute, really elegant, love 'em xAnnaAnna's Island Style

Love this idea and I'm going to start participating. My monochrome colours are red, green and purple though (not together!). Meanwhile, I'm developing a serious affection for monochrome in the b/w sense of the term.

I love monochrome, but don't usually do all white. Of course I wear all black all the time, but if I really want to stand out I love all red or hot pink. I got a fabulous red jumpsuit from Rent the Runway last spring and LOVED it!

You are chic and elegant in your monochromatic white. Thank you so much for including Style Crone in your "featured favorites." Thank you also for providing this wonderful weekly gathering of fabulous women from across the world!

I do a LOT of neutrals and tone-on-tone outfit combinations, dearest Catherine...but a truly monochromatic look?? It's been AGES!! After drooling over your fabulous all-white ensemble here, though, I know it'll be on my mind to give it another go...and soon!! You are the picture of elegance in this fabulously textured sweater and trousers outfit!! XOXO

You inspired me and so I went straight to my closet to grab all similar colors that could be found and created an after-work outfit for last night :) Will share it on facebook with your hashtag. You really rocked it and love the details from top to toes Catherine! <3 Sabina

You look absolutely gorgeous Catherine. I love this look on you and I particularly love the shot of you swinging your bag! Your top is beautiful and of course, I love the pop of yellow on your shoes! I'm about to link up a post. I'm not monochrome but the sky and the sea are! Love Liz www.whatlizzyloves.com xxx

I must admit that each time the word monochrome is used, I think of an all white outfit. I wonder why that is so, why not black or pink or red, or blue, you know? Musings aside, I've always had a soft spot for white, it's so crisp and clean, and brings with it tidings of fresh Spring air :)

p/s I'm so glad you had that wee bit of yellow on the toes, Catherine, I can't envision you completely devoid of colour xoxo

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